Inspirational stories from South Africa's rural communities coming to kykNET

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Landbouweekblad Editor Chris Burgess.

Listen below:

The documentary series 'Oplossings vir die Platteland' shines a light on 77 inspiring stories about South Africans making a difference in their rural communities.

Burgess says if you live in small towns in the Eastern Cape or the North West, for example, "You've long given up on expecting something from the authorities."

He says that in February last year, Landbouweekblad, which has been covering the 'platteland' for 106 years, held a conference in Bothaville to unearth stories of these ordinary people. They have solved problems across the spectrum from crime to healthcare to education to electricity and other basic services.

"When you're living in a small town, you're acutely aware that no one's going to come to your rescue and you've got to make a plan yourself to sort the problems out."

- Chris Burgess, Editor - Landbouweekblad

He says one of the highlights in the documentary series is a story about two doctors in Barkly East in the Eastern Cape:

Dr Christina de Villiers and her husband, when they graduated from varsity they decided to plough back into this small community. They collaborated with the local hospital to help build a world-class medical facility. But then their mother and father were murdered on their farm.

"And they were at a crossroads: `Do we leave or do we stay?' And the local community just carried them through this terrible time, and they continued on their route. And today, Barkly East has got this extraordinary medical facility."

- Chris Burgess, Editor - Landbouweekblad

Scroll up to listen to the full discussion.